Moscow, Lubyanka Square, NKVD Headquarters
September 26, 1943, 0900 hours

Natasha had made the walk with him to NKVD Headquarters when Vladimir reported to find out the decision on his assignment. The three days he had spent at home were wonderful. He spent every moment he could, becoming reacquainted with his son, Sasha, and talking with his family.

He and Natasha had had several conversations about his leaving again. She kept repeating that after losing him for so long and finally getting him back, she didn't want to lose him again. He had tried to convince her that it was impossible for him to stay at home. Either he would go back to the war, or he would go to the gulag, or worse. Then she complained that his working as a spy in Germany was too dangerous. If the Germans found out about him, he would be shot. He tried to explain that if he were sent to the front, he would continually be shot at. Nothing he said could convince her.

But Vladimir knew that she understood that he had to do what he was told to do. She didn't have to like it, but she had to accept it.

Vladimir was very surprised when he learned that Beria had made arrangements for Natasha to be excused from work during Vladimir's visit. When he found that out, he realized that the chances were good that Marya's suggestions would be acted upon.

The walk this morning had been pleasant. They were not in a hurry, and enjoyed the time they could spend alone. Though they had walked slowly, it seemed that they arrived at Lubyanka Square too soon. When they arrived, Vladimir saw Marya waiting outside of the building. She saw them approaching and waved.

When they met at the bottom of the steps leading to the building, Vladimir made the introductions. He noticed that Natasha had stiffened her posture slightly, which he knew as a sign she was not pleased. He had noticed this over the past three days, whenever he had mentioned Marya's name. He knew what she was thinking, but he also knew that she had nothing to worry about. There was nothing between he and Marya except friendship.

"Zdravstvuyte Tovarish Minskaya," a smiling Marya said to Natasha. Natasha returned the greeting, somewhat reservedly. The two women looked at each other for several moments.

Then Marya turned to Vladimir. "Zdravstvuyte Vladimir Ivanovich," she said. "Laverenty Pavlovich is waiting for you. Please go on ahead, I would like to become more acquainted with your wife."

Vladimir hesitated. Knowing Natasha's reservations, he didn't like the idea of leaving them alone. But he also knew that keeping Beria waiting was not a wise choice. In the end, he said to Natasha, "Poka Natashenka, I will see you at home." He kissed his wife and ascended the steps into the building.

After he had gone, the two women were silent for some time. It was Natasha who finally broke the silence.

"I suppose I should thank you, Tovarish," she said, hesitating for a second, unsure how to address Marya, "Marya, for bringing my Vladimir back home."

"Please, call me Svetlana," Marya replied.

Natasha nodded, but remained silent.

Marya smiled reassuringly at her. "Tovarish Minskaya," she said, "please, you do not have anything to worry about."

"Tovarish Marya," Natasha replied, then correcting herself, she continued, "Svetlana, I am sure I do not know what you are talking about." There was a slight hint of indignation in her voice.

Marya laughed softly. "Da, you do," she said. "Your husband was a prisoner in a prison camp for more than a year. Then after he escaped, I spent several weeks traveling with him to return to Russia."

Natasha looked at the ground. "Did you ..." she said softly, leaving the question unfinished.

"Nyet," Marya replied. "I offered myself to him once," she said. Natasha looked up quickly, as Marya continued, "and he declined. But he gave me something much more on the journey home."

Natasha was confused. She kept silent, not knowing what to say.

Marya continued, "Vladimir," she paused with a little shake of her head, "Volodya gave me the gift of myself. In my job, I must always be someone else. I had been doing it for so long, I had almost forgotten who I was. For those few weeks, he allowed me to be Svetlana again."

Natasha continued to stare at Marya, unspeaking.

Marya smiled. "Tovarish Minskaya," Marya said.

"Natasha, please," Natasha corrected.

"Natasha," Marya repeated. "What Volodya gave me for those few weeks, allowing me to be myself again, meant more to me than anything else." Marya paused. "He is a very wise and dear man, and he has become a dear friend to me."

Natasha could not speak. She was very happy that her worst fears had been dispelled. She was also proud of her dear Vovochka.

"I just wanted to tell you this," Marya said. "And also to tell you that you are a very lucky woman. Volodya cares for you deeply. Not many men could spend all that time in a prison camp and then travel so closely with a woman for weeks and not give into temptation. But I could tell he was waiting for you."

Natasha smiled. "Spasibo Svetlana," she said warmly, "for bringing Vovochka back home."

Marya smiled back warmly. "Nichevo, Natasha," she replied. "I wish you happy times while Volodya is home, and a long happy life together after this war is over."

"Will you be going back to Germany?" Natasha asked.

"Da, it is my job," Marya replied.

"Will you and Vladimir be working together?" she asked, and then before Marya got the wrong idea, she added, "I mean so that you can look out for each other."

Marya shook her head. "We will see little of each other, but we will have occasional contact," she replied. "He will be fine."

"Spasibo," Natasha said, "for everything." She smiled warmly at Marya and began to walk back home.

Marya felt good as she walked up the steps into the building. Yes, Vladimir will be fine, and so will you Natasha.

---------------

When Marya got to Beria's office, he and Vladimir had been going over Vladimir's assignment. Having consulted with Beria over the past three days, she already knew what had been decided. Vladimir would be stationed in Rastenburg, and would make contact with their informant attached to the German General Staff there.

Beria motioned for Marya to sit and continued talking to Vladimir. "Vladimir Ivanovich, all that is left is for you to have a code name," he said.

"If it is alright, Laverenty Pavlovich, I would like to use 'Sam' as my code name," Vladimir replied.

Marya chuckled. Beria was familiar with Vladimir's story, and knew the significance of the name. He smiled, "That is perfectly acceptable," he replied. "You will remain here in Moscow for three weeks of training."

Vladimir nodded. He was very happy to hear that he would have three more weeks living at home with his family.

"Since you were involved with Papa Bear, you do not need as much training as someone else might," Beria said. "But Iosif Vissarionovich has decided that you will remain a member of the Red Army rather than become a member of the NKVD. You will be raised in rank appropriately, for the service you have already performed."

Until he heard that, he never realized that he didn't know what to expect. He had supposed that if he was returning to Germany, that he would have been made a member of the NKVD. The raise in rank made him happy.

"Also," Beria continued, "Your family will receive a better flat, commiserate with your new rank. They will continue to receive your pay while you are on your assignment, and your back pay from when you were operating with Papa Bear."

Now Vladimir was astonished. This was a lot more than he expected. "Spasibo Laverenty Pavlovoch," he replied.

Then Beria turned his attention to Marya. "Svetlana Viktorovna, you must return as soon as possible," he said.

"What is it that is so urgent, Laverenty Pavlovich?" she asked.

"We just received a report from agent Michael that the Germans are aware of the leak of German battle plans for the Eastern Front," Beria replied.

Marya knew that agent Michael was Kurt Wagner in the Abwehr. "Do they know the source of the leak?" she asked.

"Nyet," he responded. "But they have put a Gestapo man, Count von Waffenschmidt in charge of finding out. We cannot let that happen. Our ties to the German General Staff are too valuable to lose. This is the reason Vladimir Ivanovich will be in contact with our friend when he gets to Rastenburg."

Marya nodded. "What are my orders, Laverenty Pavlovich?" she asked him.

"Make sure that von Waffenschmidt notices you," he said, smiling, "and lead him away from the source. Make him think it is somewhere else."

Marya smiled and said, "He'll notice me."

Beria laughed heartily. "Da, I am sure of that Svetlana Viktorovna," he replied. "I am very sure of that!"

---------------

After they left Beria's office, Vladimir and Marya sat, eating lunch. Marya was going to leave for Germany that evening, traveling to Novgorod to cross the front lines.

"Did you and Natasha have a good talk?" Vladimir asked curiously.

Marya laughed. "Of course, Volodya," she replied. "Did you expect that we would yell and scream at each other?"

Vladimir shrugged. "Nyet, not that," he responded. "But I do know that she was worried about me spending time with you."

"Relax, Volodya," Marya replied. "She was jealous. Who could blame her?" Marya laughed as she said it, opening her arms in a 'look at me' gesture.

Vladimir laughed. "She was jealous even before seeing you," he said.

"Volodya," she said, "her husband had spent years away from her, and then spent several weeks traveling with another woman. Most men would not have restrained themselves."

"But ..." Vladimir started to say.

Marya shook her head and waved him off. "I told her the truth," she said. "And I told her that she was lucky to have a man like you. Do not worry, everything is fine."

Vladimir eyed Marya suspiciously. "Are you sure?" he asked, teasingly. "How could any man resist a woman like you?"

Marya burst out laughing. "Da, a man would have to be blind!" she teased back.

Vladimir began pantomiming a blind man feeling his way along a corridor. They both burst out laughing.

When the laughter subsided, Vladimir said, "Spasibo, Sveta, for helping me find my way home, if just for a little while."

Marya gazed at Vladimir and then reached out and grabbed his hands. "Spasibo, Volodya, for helping me find myself, if just for a little while."

They sat there, holding hands across the table, for several minutes, not speaking. They both knew that their relationship, which started with animosity just three weeks before, had been transformed into a deep, lifelong friendship. Neither of them knew how or why, but neither of them cared. Some things were just meant to happen.